Truss structure



May 28, 1935. H. LOUD ENBACK 2,002,506

TRUSS STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 5, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l .boualenzdcl I My y1935- H. LQUDENBACK 2,002,506

' TRUSS STRUCTURE,

Filed Nov. 3, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwmtoz 1 6 is /ZLJJouJenZarYYduct/H414 H L. LOUDENBACK TBUSS STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 5, 1931 5Sheets-Sheet, 3

lil l u olenaal Patented May 28, 1935 a IRIIS I H liamilton L.Loudenback, Sidney, Ohio, assignor of one-third to Clarence F.Loudenback, Sidney, Ohio Application "nevfi bi s, 1931', Seal" No.572,825 4 Claims. (01. 108-23) I invention relates to a truss structure,and

t l p imarily an object of the iIIVGHtiODjO-DI'OW vide a built-up woodenstructure wherein the constructive partsare arranged edgeways, crossways5' and diagonalto their difierent strains and whereminer such parts arearranged on edge with respect to the load or stress imposed thereon.

.Eurther nore, it is an object of the inventionto provide a structure ofthis kindwherein all of 1d tlie constructive parts comprised thereinare" at rest or, mother words, free of bending stretche ing orcompressive strains until after, it has been ssed de i ed, Worki p on ne n deadloadsare superimposed thereon;

vide a wooden truss structure wherein theyariouseonstructive parts areused in their natural grownstateand wherein the various parts areassembledor built in, the structure end to end, or

endgrain, to endgrain, thereby preventing any distortion asa result ofshrinkage in materials.

still furtherobject of the invention is to provide a structure of thiskind comprising in. its building the use of sheathing, thesheathingmembersbeing so applied and held in place thatsaid sheathing,members will act in rtlieirunatural shrinkage to tighten instead of.loosening due to. thefactthat certain. of the sheathing memberswill.shrink in opposite directionsfrom that of other of the sheathingmembers. i

Theinventionalso contemplates-a wooden truss; structure comprisingupperandlovverv convex and.

concavesegments or chord members with inter.-. s posed struts,saidmembers comprising a continuother with any desired curvaturerequired by span and height.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a truss structureof this kind wherein the sofiit or under surface of thetruss is disposedonradiistruck from two points slightly'above-and to" the right and leftof the point or center from which is struckthe curvatureioftheouter-sur-v face of the top segments or. chord membersat vide a, trussstructure wherein theiparts are so. constructed and assembled that alllive anddead load strains imposed thereon, either, by comi iizis $i ap binaare coun racted by;-

6 the'various parts or members built in the truss An additionalobject ofthe inventionis to pro ous :arched structure adapted to be supportedfrom one supporting pier or foundation to the structure due to the factthat such parts or members are disposed at different angles re1a, tiveto eachbther which results in a truss struc ture having a. selfcontained, rigid and firm, un V yielding structure and whichconstruction a1'so, 5' brings the truss under the slow burning class ofwood truss construction. l i

The invention consists in. the details of construction and in. thecombination and arrange-t ment of the several parts of my improved truss10 structure whereby. certain important advantages are, attained and thedevice rendered simplenless expensiveand otherwise more convenient andad vantageousfor use, as will be hereinafter more fully set f orthp Thenovel. features of ,my invention will hereinafterbe definitelyclaimed... a Y In order that my invention-may be the better understood,I will now proceed to, describe; the samewith reference to theaccompanying draw- 2 ings, whereinra .1 Figure l is a fragmentaryrviewpartly in secs tion and. partlyinelevation illustrating a trussstructure constructed inaccordance with an embodimentof myinventiori; a2 Figure '2- is a; fragmentarydiagrammatic view indicating the," radiifor the different curvatures of the structure;

Figure 3 isan enlarged fragmentary: sectional viewitaken substantiallyon the line 3--3 of Fig- 30 I l 1 l I Figure i is enlargedfragmentarysectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FigureEigure 5,is.afragmentary. sectional view taken 35 ant a on t e n fiwfi oFi r Figure a sectional yiewtaken substantially Figure {I .isa sectionalview taken substantially on theline, '|-1 oflFigurefi i i I In FigurestlandZ-the-truss structure as illustra ted.pomprisesslightly more than onehalf. of. the length of such structure; It-is to beunderstood, however,thattheopposite end portions of .therstructure are similar and,therefore, it is be 45 lieved that. the illustration .made by Figures 1and 2 is sufiicientfor the. purposes of disclosure.

My ,truss structure as herein disclosed a com prises tWoch rds A.and B,and each; of these. chordscomprises the segments 1 and 2 .respectively,The, segments of each of the chords cone stitute timbers of desireddimensions-and cut. from wood in its naturalstate in desiredform andwith its grain runninglengthwise'thereofso; that when adjacent segmentsI or 2 are arranged in assembled relation they are in butting contactwith the grain of the segments end to end. These segments do not have tobe of any material length but, on the contrary, I find it of particularadvantage to produce such segments from short lengths thus materiallyreducing the cost of production.

The joints 3 of one of the chords are staggered with respect to thejoints of the second chord thus assuring the segments of one of thechords being in effective lapping relation with the segments of theother chord so that said chordsA and B from end to end will besubstantially the same as if constructed from continuous pieces ofmaterial. The segments and 2 of the chords A and B respectively haveinterposed therebetween the diagonally disposed and crossed bracing orreinforcing struts or buck-staying members the extremities of whichbeing nailed or otherwise effectively secured or anchored tothe opposedsurfaces of the chords A and B.

It is to be particularly noted that each strut or member in thisconstruction of the truss herein disclosed extends from an end portionof a segment of one chord to approximately the center of an adjacentsegment of the second chord thus assuring effective binding or holdingtogether of the chords A and B. It is also to be noted that each of thestruts or buck-staying members 4 is of a thickness equal to thethickness of the chord Y members A and B and that they are arranged endto end and in butting contact. Each strut or member 4 is also in thesame plane as the chords A and B.

As is particularly illustrated in diagrammatic I Figure 2, the centralpart of the outer surface of the upper or top chord A is disposed on aradius struck from a desired point a midway of the ends of the trussstructure. The solfit or under surface of the lower or bottom chord B Lat its central portion is disposed on radii struck from the points I)and c at desired distances above and to the right and left of the pointa, the points I) and 0, however, being equidistantly spaced with respectto the vertical radius from the point a. The portion of the sofiit orunder surface of the chord B to one side of the Vertical radius of thecentral portion of the truss is struck from the point, such as b, to theopposite side of the vertical radius while the portion of the soilit orunder surface at the opposite lthus increasing the strength of each legor one-v half of the truss'structure against cross bending and whichstrength is most needed to prevent spreading of the structure.

Each end portion of the truss may be disposed on such curvatures asdeemed most effective and,

as illustrated in diagrammatic Figure 2, the outer surface of the topchord A is struck from a point d positioned a desired distance inwardlyof the I adjacent end of the truss and above the horizontal while thesoflit or under surface of the inner or bottom chord at the adjacent endportion is on a radius struck from the point e spaced a desired distanceabove but in vertical alignmentwith the point cZ.

The chords A and B, in addition to the struts 4, are tied or held indesired assembled relation by the sheathing nailed or otherwise attachedto the opposite side faces of the segments I and 2 of the chords A and Brespectively and also nailed or otherwise anchored or secured to thestruts 4. The members 5 of these sheathings are diagonally disposed withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the truss with the members 5 of thesheathing at one side being reversely disposed with respect to themembers 5 of the sheathing at the opposite side. These members 5 arepreferably disposed on an angle of fortyfive degrees with respect toeither the horizontal or vertical. This reverse arrangement of themembers 5 of the sheathings at opposite sides of the chords A and B isof particular advantage in View of the fact that any shrinkage of thesemembers 5 which may occur will result in tightening the structureinstead of loosening as the shrinkage of the members of one of thesheathings will be in a direction opposite to the shrinkage of themembers of the other sheathing at the opposite side. Adjacent members ofeach of the sheathings are preferably interlocked by the well knowntongue and groove structure, as indicated at 6.

The grain of the members 5 is that of natural mill sawed lumber with thegrain markings running the length of the member. There is no shrinkagein lumber except in its width and thickness and with the members 5 ofone of the sheathings deployed in a direction opposite to that of themembers of the second sheathing, the shrinkage of the different plies ofsheathings will tend to tighten the structure.

The members 5 of the sheathings extend beyond the outer curved edge orface of the chord A and are also secured to the opposite faces of thesegments 1 comprised in the ridge member R. This ridge member R extendsas desired along the upper portion of the truss structure from thecenter thereof and also preferably consists of segments or piecesarranged end to end in butting relation and with the grain of themembers also end to end. As illustrated in Figure 1, each end portion ofthe ridge member R is extended outward on desired curvature or otherwiseas preferred and extends to a wall line post 8 to which it is nailed orotherwise suitably anchored. The sheathing associated with each of thechords A and B is also extended to afford connection'with this wall linepost 8 and to the extended end portion 9 of the ridge member thusproviding a rigid triangle end whereby the strength and value of thetruss structure in its entirety is materially increased.

The members 5 of each of the sheathings have secured thereto the upperand lower chord or compression members A and B arranged in overlyingrelation with respect to the chord members A and B and coincident indesign or configuration therewith. These compression members A and B arealso formed of segments I. These segments each comprise a timber ofdesired dimensions and arranged in the same manner as hereinbefore setforth with respect to the segments or timbers I. It is to beparticularly stated that the joints 3 between adjacent segments ortimbers l alternate with the joints -3 between the segments or timbers lof the chords A and B. These compression members A and B also haveinterposed therebetween and secured to the members 5 of the sheathingsthe diagonally disposed crossed struts or buck-stay- 2,002,806 ingmembers' d' forthe same" "purpose as here inbeforeset ffofth with fespcttd the st llit s l;

thickness equali to the thickness of the chords Assad- 3 andoccupy' "thesame plane and these strutsormembers' 4' are alsoarra'nged endto'endman-sec s".-

related with respect 'to'the m'embe'rsi of the adjacent sheathingsfiThis arrangement of these additionak sheathings,- or more particularlythe members 5"; with r'espect 'to the members 5 of rstnamedfsheathing'sresults in--a struc-' the turewherein all of the-parts are effectivelytied together to-assure a rigid and non-yielding strucmay betruethat-thetruss will burn its structureis such whereby the truss will not quicklylose strengthwhen-heated.- Aconsiderable length of timemust=elapsebefore the truss "is burned through sufficient to cause failure) Theparticu lar placemen't of-thesheathin'g members 5 and 5' is such'wherebysaid sheathing members function in' offering resistance to' thecompressive, tensile, and-cross-bendingstrainsthat occur within thetruss mat-maybe created by the superimposed 10mm besupported onthetruss. I V

It isto bestaltedat-this time that thetr'uss structure can-be built onany desired curved lines from' a true circle, elliptical circle, orparabola, or'with various other curves and radii of arch form's'changingin length in accordance with the dimensions of the building and loadrequirements oif the*strlicture-b It is to be understood; however,

that in each offsuch instances the structure will retain the offcentercurvesfor the under sur-: face or soflit" or the structure toprovide a taper on-*th*e"f*urider side" of the arch to increase theresisting strength tocross bending.

It is also to be statedthat as many compression membersA and B arrangedin side by side relationwith 'interposed sheathings may be em ployed asthe requirements of practice may dictate.

At predetermined spaced points along its upper portion the ridge memberR. and the adjacent portions of the members 5 of the sheathings areprovided with upwardly opening notches or recesses ID with whichinterlock portions of the rafters ll, said rafters having their uppermargins flush with the top faces or surfaces of the ridge member R andadjacent members 5 so that the roofing sheathing boards or members I4may be conveniently applied. In order to increase the esthetic value ofthe arch structure I find it desirable under certain conditions tointerpose between each of the outer sheathings 5 and the adjacentportions of the rafters II the bracket strips 15. While these bracketsl5 to a considerable extent increase the strength of the roof structuresuppported by the truss structure, yet these brackets I5 are of especialadvantage in the formation of what may be terri ied i coves tofacilitate the interibnfinish of the -wall structure as by plaster" or'other ma f term a I r if p Relative to the truss structure "properi' ithas alsd" been found of advantage to tie' or cohne'cu the segments ortimbers of each'o'r the chords Aand'Band the associated "compressionmembers A' and' B by *the bolts lfiysaid bolts extending through saidsegments or timbers and: also through certain members! and5' of thesneatningsi 'Each 'of thebolts I6 has associated there with acoiiventional nut l1 to facilitateits maintenance'in applie'd position.a

Itis again tobe emphasized that none of the parts comprised -in*thetruss structure arebent or flexed and-"that each of the various partsormembers iscut'out from "the natural wood in de sired'shapejthus assuringa truss structure when completely assembled to be entirely free" ofstress within itself or, in otherwords, to provide a truss"structurewhich is only subjectedto the stress imposed thereon by theload it supports.

While the sections I and 2 of the chords A and B and the correspondingsections l and 2' of the compression members A, andB have beenreferredto' as segments andthus implying longi' tudin'al-curvature, itis to be understood that'for all practical purposes this definition isintended toembrace'the idea of multiple straight line arch, the sectionsin'this'multiple straight line arch being arranged and assembled in thetruss structure in the same manner'as hereinbeforedescribed with respectto the segments.

From the foregoing description it is through to be obvious that a trussstructure constructed in accordance with my' invention is particularlywell adapted for use by reason of the conven ience and facilitywith'which it maybe assem bled 'and operated, and'it will alsobe'obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the punciples' and spirit thereofand for this reason I def .not wish to be understood as limiting myseuwthe precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownin carrying out my invention in practice except ashereinafterclaime'dr- 1. Awooden multi-plyarched truss structurecomprising-spaced upper and lower chord-members,-each of said chordmembers comprising seg merits arranged end to end and in buttingcontact, sheathing members connected to the opposite faces of the chord"members and-bridging the" space therebetween, compression memberssecured against the outer faces of the sheathing members at oppositesides of the upper and lower chord members, said compression membersalso comprising segments arranged end to end and in butting contact,sheathing members secured to the outer faces of the compression membersand bridging the space therebetween, the sheathing members beingdiagonally disposed with the members of the sheathing at one side of thechords being inclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of thesheathing members at the opposite side of the chords and the sheathingmembers secured to the outer faces of the compression members beinginclined in a direction opposite to the inclination of the sheathingmembers connecting the chord members, struts interposed between andcoplanar with the segments of the upper and lower chords, and additionalstruts interposed between and coplanar with the compression members ofthe upper and lower chords.

J 2. A wooden multi-ply arched truss structure comprising spaced upperand lower chord members, each of said chord members comprisingsegmentsarranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing membersconnected to the opposite faces of the chord members and bridging thespace therebetween, compression members secured against the outer facesofthe sheathing members at opposite sides of the upper and lower chordmembers, said compression members also comprising segments arranged endtoend and in butting contact, sheathing members secured to theouterfaces of the compression members and bridging the spacetherebetween, the sheathing members being diagonally disposed with themembers of the sheathing at one side of the chords being inclined in adirection opposite to the inclination of the sheathing members at theopposite side of the chords and the sheathing members secured to theouter faces of the compression members being inclined in a directionopposite to the inclination of the adjacent sheathing members connectingthe chord members, struts interposed between and coplanar with thesegments of the upper and lower chords, and additional struts interposedbetween and coplanar with the compression members of the upper and lowerchords, the struts between the chord members and the struts between thecompression members being in crossed relation.

3. A wooden multi-ply arched truss structure comprising spaced upper andlower chord members, each of said chord members comprising segmentsarranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members connectedto the opposite faces of the chord members and bridging the spacetherebetween, compression members secured against the outer faces of thesheathing members at opposite sides of the upper and lower chordmembers, said compression members also comprising segments arranged endto end and in butting contact, sheathing members secured to the outerfaces of the compression members and bridging the space therebetween,the sheathing members being diagonally disposed with the members of thesheathing at one side of the chords being inclined in a directionopposite to the inclination of the sheathing members at the oppositeside of the chords and the sheathing members secured to the outer facesof the compression members being inclined in a direction opposite to theinclination of the adjacent sheathing members connecting the chordmembers, struts interposed between and coplanar with the segments of theupper and lower chords, and

additional struts interposed between and coplanar with the compressionmembers of the upper and lower chords, the struts between the chordmembers and the struts between the compression members being in crossedrelation, the struts between the chord members and also the strutsbetween the compression members being arranged end to end, the strutsbetween the chord members extending from the extremities of the segmentsof one chord member to the central portions of the segments of thesecond chord memher, the struts between the compression members beingsimilarly extended.

4. A wooden multi-ply arched truss structure comprising spaced upper andlower chord members, each of said chord members comprising segmentsarranged end to end and in butting contact, sheathing members connectedto the opposite faces of the chord members and bridging the spacetherebetween, compression members secured against the outer faces of thesheathing members at opposite sides of the upper and low-, er chordmembers, said compression members also comprising segments arranged endto end and in butting contact, sheathing members secured to the outerfaces of the compression members and bridging the space therebetween,the sheathing members being diagonally disposed with the members of thesheathing at one side of the chords being inclined in a directionopposite to the inclination of the sheathing members at the oppositeside of the chords and the sheathing members secured to the outer facesof the compression members being inclined in a direction opposite to theinclination of the adjacent sheathing members connecting the chordmembers, struts interposed between and coplanar with the segments of theupper and lower chords, and additional struts interposed between andcoplanar with the compression members of the upper and lower chords, aridge member extending along the upper chord member, the end portion ofthe ridge member extending outwardly beyond the upper chord member, andwall line posts for supporting theouter parts of the extended portionsof the ridge member, the sheathing secured to the opposite faces of thechord members being extended for securement to the opposite faces of theridge member and the extended portions thereof and also the oppositefaces of the wall line posts.

H. L. LOUDENBACK.

